Charges filed against suspect in Friday death

Mar. 30, 2013

Sean Roberson

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Branson police intend to file murder charges against a suspect in a suspicious death as soon as a coroner’s report is available, the city’s spokesman said.

Sean D. Roberson, 24, is currently charged with first degree assault, armed criminal action and first degree burglary, a release from Branson said. Branson police are continuing to investigate the death that occurred Friday.

“That’s the intent, to amend those charges to include murder as well,” said Garrett Anderson, city and police spokesman. Further charges are pending lab and coroner reports.

The victim has been identified by Taney County Coroner Kevin Tweedy as 18-year-old Androws Valentin Bargus.

Branson police issued an alert early Friday evening that they were searching for a man considered to be armed and dangerous in relation to a suspicious death.

According to police, the man fled from an apartment complex in Branson into woods about 4 p.m. Friday.

The suspect first fled police in a car, then attempted to run, according to police.

Roberson was pulled from Lake Taneycomo and taken into custody on Friday evening. Citizens, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Taney County Sheriff’s Office and Branson police participated in the search, the release said.

Roberson remains the only suspect in the death.

Roberson was in the Greene County jail last week on municipal charges, said Cora Scott, Springfield city spokeswoman.

The Missouri Board of Probation and Parole also filed to revoke Roberson’s probation or parole, the release said.